Target audience moodboard

I created this moodboard in order to set out a general idea of everything my target audience could be interested in. I could therefore keep this in mind when creating my final products as I could make it relatable as possible to appeal to them as much as I can.

Target Audience interview research

Before conducting my Interview on several people for further research for my final products I decided to look it up on google. I was searching the types of questions to ask and how to approach the interview.
Here are the  questions I found most useful to ask;

• Demographics - Are they male or female? what age group? 
• Psychographics - What hobbies do they have? How do they spend their free time? 
• Do they read magazines? 
• How much do they spend? 
• what do you expect to see on a magazine?
• Do you use websites?
•  what for? 
• Do you shop online?
• what do you expect to see on a website?
• Do you notice billboards
• What do you like to see on a billboard?

I also found tips for conducting an interview

• stay relaxed 
• make your source feel relaxed 
• be comfortable 
• have questions prepared 
• note down answers correctly 
• be patient 

Specific audience profiles

I created 3 specific audience profiles in order to gather some real prospect on to which people would buy my magazine due to their interests etc.

Character drawings

 Following the survey and the reader profile I created a character of each of my primary and secondary audience with their likes and hobbies for a visual representation for myself when creating my final products. This will allow me to keep in mind my target audience throughout.

Reader profile

I created a reader profile in order to represent my audience and the results from the survey in which I created and asked my target audience to complete.
This was a easier way to represent the information.

Survey

I created a survey on the website 'survey planet' in order to gather a response from potential target audience to see whom I will appeal my magazine, billboard and website too. The questions asked were just to gather some research on what the audience would like to see in a magazine and if they actually read them. I further asked what would be expected to see on a billboard and website but unlike when I asked about a magazine a essay type reply was left in order to gather full suggestions. As I have done a magazine before in my AS year I gathered features and information about this that I could use. However I have not created a website or a billboard before and therefore need to gather as much research as I can.
 


Below is a summary of the results I received from several people from work, college, friends and family.

• 58% still read magazines
• They read them on average of once every two weeks
• The most popular genre was fashion and gossip
• on average people were willing to a maximum of 4 pounds
• articles, interviews, and images attracted people to a magazine
• 85% of the females would read a prom magazine
• this years prom trends and tips for prom
• 88% of all people shop online regularly for clothing
• 62% said they would purchase a prom dress online
• from a website people expect it be easy to understand, easy to navigate, short and memorable web address, good colour scheme and images to visually display points and information
• 48% of people said they do not notice billboards
• from a billboard people expect to see images, short and snappy information and good colour scheme.

Monthly Calendar

 Friday 1st; On this day I aim to create my blog and create my tags. I will also create everything under the home tab.
Friday 8th. On this day I aim to do my photoshoot organisation and gather my photos.
Friday 15th; On this day I aim to complete everything under inspirations
Friday 22nd; On this day I aim to finish everything under Inspirations
Friday the 29th; On this day I aim to start everything in similar products and time management.

Friday 5th; On this day I aim to complete deconstructions
Friday 12th; On this day I aim to complete all my deconstructions
Friday 19th; On this day I aim to complete my drafts and reconstructions
Friday 26th; On this day I aim to complete my potential target audience


Friday 2nd; On this day I aim to start the creation of my magazine pitch
Friday 9th; On this day I aim to finish my pitch and present it to the class in order to gather feedback from my peers
Friday 16th; On this day I aim to update my blogger and start to plan my interview with my target audience.
Friday 23rd; On this day I aim to update my blogger and add more bits on for my research and planning
Friday 30th; On this day I aim to keep updating the rest of my  blower ready for my construction.

Photos

Here is a collection of the images in which I gathered. This is only a short collection however it does feature some of my favorites. I feel a lot of these images each bring a different  element and will each add character to my magazine. I like that they include a lot of different backgrounds. In addition t these being pictures for my magazine I love the image of the girls back in a line for my billboard/banner as shows a lot of sides and styles to the prom scene. It is a simple image that visually shows a lot especially on a short area. Despite a lot of these images being appropriate to use, there are also several images I could not use. They may of became blurry or not had the correct background. The image below in an example. There are too many people in the shot that got in the way. Also reflections can be seen in the mirror that would needed to be removed in photoshop and  the background is all wrong and would need further work on the photoshop app. Finally a hand cuts of the bottom of her dress which could not be edited out.

Weather check

The first step to planning my photo-shoot was to check the weather forecast for the day in which I was going to take the photos of my model. As I have to visit several people getting ready I had to look at several days in which I was visiting those people.

Model organisation

Before I can take my photographs I need to ask people to be my models and gather their permission. I asked many people for this opportunity and below I have enlisted some of the messages I sent out to some of these girls. Each person has a different relationship with me and this was reflected in the was I asked them. Firstly was Megan in which is my best friend. She is also in my media class as was well in the know with the events that were occurring and her message only needed to be brief as a confirmation. Secondly was an only school friend that was about to have her prom and her message therefore needed to be a lot more detailed in order to allow her to fully know what was happening and what I would have to do. I also had to ask permission to actually be there on the night of her prom before she left. Thirdly is my cousin is also about to have her prom and she briefly knows what I am doing. As i would already be seeing her off from prom this is a confirmation that i can publish these photos on the internet.

Location scout

When deciding where to take my photos for my final product i came to several conclusions...

I felt each of these would add different character to the photographs. However I decided that the best to go for would be the actual prom location and around the area in which they live such as the back garden. Several of the photos from the home can have the background removed however some may be included to add the professional touch. Having photos from the actual prom location would also add authenticity to the photographs as they were actually from the time and place of prom and captured the true moment.

Recce

Above is a diagram presentation of Recce in which i have answered questions regarding my photoshoot and the precautions to take and why I can solve/change them. It also looks in to this regarding the props and reflective objects I could use in the photos for my magazines. I decided I was not going to use any props. However several of the images taken uses the photobooth style with the goofy props if i choose to do a segment like that. The photo on the front cover will be a mid shot or a full length shot of my model in order to dominate the page. 

National and Regional magazines

Researching qualities about national and regional magazines allowed me to see the difference between them both. It then lead me to think about which type of magazine i would like to create. I decided a national magazine would be the most suitable according to the genre I have chose and the audience in which I will be appealing to. As my magazine will be about the Prom season in which occurs around the country this would be the most suitable. Using  a national magazine style  would also mean a bigger percent chance of it becoming more successful as it can be reached to a lot more people.

Genric conventions

There are generic conventions to magazines, a website and billboards and when researching these I realised there are some in which I will follow and some I will challenge in order to complete with the competition in order to appeal to my target audience.

Firstly is a website;

• easy to use and navigate for all users
• a grid system (separate sections of a website to present information in small, easy to access segments)
• background and front colour used to seperate different types of information
• images to illustrate as much as possible through a visual aspect
• centre of page used for main contents with navigation tools on the left or the right and links to more information
• contents has factual information
• based on a specific genre
• have a specific target audience in mind 

Secondly is a billboard;

• logo
• colourful and attractive 
• dominant title 
• clear and large images 
• direct address
• anchoring 
• good layout
• slogan
• subheadings 
• informative
• easy to read font 
• company logo

Thirdly is a magazine;

• many magazines use a slogan under the header of the front cover in order to explain the magazines contents or to make it stand out from the rivals
• the central image is photographed either close up or medium shot with a direct mode of address (in a music magazine it can be a group shot) 
• the feature article line is always bigger than the rest and dominates the page - the one that producers hope will sell the magazine
• the strapline usually goes at the top or bottom of the page  highlighting the stars in the magazine or other sections of the magazine 
• the masthead will usually go at the top of the page to create a brand image and make it recognizable to the audience
• coverlines are the main text on a front cover to advertise the articles within the magazines to entice the reader 
• a colour pallette will be shown and will be a defined use of colours to be recognisable
• dates and barcodes usually now come with a website address to entice audiences to the website
• pugs are used to catch the readers eye and are well placed. 
• credits are used under photos 

Inspiring billboards

 When researching banners that inspire me I found three separate ones that follow different routes. The first is very busy and cluttered with a lot going on. The second has a lot more space but still features a lot of text and several images with a bright background.Furthermore the third banner is very simplistic and leads a lot to the imagination however is very sophisticated. For me personally I don't like the top one as I feel there is too much going on and its had to know what to look at first making it very distracting. My favourite is the second one as you get the general idea with what it is about as the third doesn't give any information at all.The seconds                                                                                       one tells you what it is, how to visit their website                                                                                    or buy the products and gives several images to                                                                                         match and clarify
.

Inspiring websites

I researched some websites that focus around the genre in which I am creating (prom). I found out that most of these websites are American as it is a big event over in that country that is beginning to leak over to England.The first website was 'Prom Girl'. This mainly focuses on the items in which you can buy for prom such as the dress, shoes and accessories. This allowed me to see 

the general layout of a website but also the types of thins that are included on the certain tabs. For me out of every website that I visited i found this the most useful as it included the most tabs such as in price accordance, colour, size and type. However on the bottom of the first page this website also had several paragraphs explaining the website and the dresses and other items in which it features. The colour scheme is consistent. The bright pink also helps highlights the target audience in which the website focuses on. From the subheadings to the shopping bag is pink. The font is clear to read and at a size which can be easily seen. The use of space makes everything spread out rather than being overcrowded or bare with nothing on the page.

These inspired me as it allowed me to see the generic conventions of a Prom website. This allowed me to establish which conventions I would like to ignore and those in which I would like to challenge. On the website above I feel the use of images is a convention in which I would like to challenge as I feel would be beneficial to my target audience. 

Millum and Ferguson

I carried out research on the theories created by Trevor Millum and Majorie Ferguson following facial expressions used on magazines. Using these theories I could insert those into my magazine when creating it for my main task. I feel this helped me as i gathered research on these theories in order to insert them into my final piece. The theory in which I will use in the creation of my magazine will be a chocolate box expression by Majorie Ferguson on my front cover. I think that by my model staring directly down the lens of the camera It will draw in the target audience. For the double page spread I will get my model to do a super similar expression. I feel these will make the photos seem a lot more natural to the target audience and fit in with the audience I  have selected for the article I will create.

Costume, hair and makeup

The presentation above shows a collection of images in which I put together in order to show the features in which I would need to include as part of my magazine genre of prom. I made four separate  collages in order to gather a vary of images following the several categories I chose to look into. Conducting this research allowed  me to gather research onto the items in which I would of had to used for my magazine. I could then use these images to decide what I want my models to wear and look like throughout In my images.

Inspiring creations

I researched some magazines, websites and billboards in which I could us as inspiration when creating my final products. Despite one finding several options they all collectively showed me the features in which are generically used and that I will have to include. I could then use these to place the features on my own final products.

Colour scheme

When looking at colour schemes I couldn't quite decided what I initially wanted. I went into google images to browse certain schemes. I came across this image in which gave me the idea that I wanted light colours. swatches 4 and 5 are my favorite out of all 6 however I feel the colour black and grey should also be included. They will neutralize the colour scheme of whichever while also adding a sense of sophistication and glamour towards it due to the genre of
magazine I am choosing to do. 

Masthead ideas

At the beginning of my magazine preparation I had to think of masthead ideas for the front page of my magazine;

• Sixteen
• Prom!
• P...

In preparation for creating my magazine the next thing I had to think about was the masthead in which I wanted to use for my double page spread. Here are several of the options I came up with;

Font ideas

 I recently visited the website called 'cool text' and i discovered some fonts in which I believe would fit into my magazine and link to my target audience of teenage girls. I felt these two fonts had to be elegant and girly while giving a sophisticated feel to the magazine that I will be creating. Each of these fonts could be used for different reasons and to add different things to the magazine. For example 'Asesine' could be used as the main text to write in however 'New Yorker' could be used as a title font. These will each bring different aspects to my magazine. I also feel I should use a range throughout in order to create a vary in my magazine and contribute to adding character for my teenage audience.